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This time Irene wasn't fooled at all though. She was becoming more and more convinced that, like her blank social mask, Lady Grace's cynicism, sarcasm and sneering remarks often covered her true feelings. It didn't make Irene like her, but she did wonder if buried under all that negativity might be a woman that was quite likeable. After all, Eleanor was very sweet and friendly, and she and Lady Grace had been friends for years, and Irene had gotten a glimpse of a woman that she thought was very likeable for just a few moments. There must be some reason for Lady Grace’s usual airs.
"The letter didn't say," Irene said. Then, hoping to get the conversation back to a more pleasant tone and away from Grace’s negativity: "Hugh said he thinks Spencer must have compromised her."
That got another smile, although it was still a bit cynical. “That would do it. It must irk him considerably to be caught in the parson’s trap. I do hope the poor thing is up to the challenge of being married to him.”
“She certainly sounds like a bit of a challenge, herself,” Irene said, which then led to an explanation of the previous letters sent by the Countess to her son. Grace derived quite a bit of amusement from the conversation and, subsequently, became quite natural and almost friendly in Irene’s company. They passed a surprisingly pleasant afternoon, during which Grace ended up staying in with her, and by the time Irene left, she wondered if they might even be becoming friends.
Chapter 13
One week before her wedding and since the night her erstwhile fiancé had proposed, and Cynthia hadn’t been so much as kissed!
Well that wasn’t entirely true. The Earl had kissed her hand several times. And once he’d kissed her cheek. But nothing more. It was frustrating. Bewildering.
Downright infuriating.
He was a rake, this wasn’t the way things were supposed to be happening between them! She felt as though she’d been given a glimpse of heaven only to have it snatched away from her. Suddenly the Earl was being as much stuffy starched shirt as when she’d first met him, with absolutely no bending.
A
nd she didn't have time to make trouble and earn another spanking and some more alone time with him; the Countess was keeping her so busy with dress fittings, shopping for accessories and a trousseau, writing out invitations, planning the meal, and when Cynthia did have a moment to herself it was because she was visiting Eleanor. For once, she was too exhausted to make trouble. Besides, she didn’t really want another spanking from him, because who knew if he would kiss her afterwards again?
Still.
If this was the way her marriage was going to be, she was no longer very excited about it.
“He hasn’t been exciting at all,” she said to Eleanor, rather aggrieved. “I thought he’d be doing all the things rakes do, whisking me away to dark corners, kissing me senseless and trying to get under my skirts. But all he does is stare at me. And he’s never in the same room as me unless his mother is there!”
Eleanor laughed. Cynthia was glad to see that she’d managed to cheer her friend up, even if it was at her own expense. When she’d first arrived to visit with Eleanor, the other woman had been looking rather wane. She had some dark shadows under her eyes and seemed a bit listless. But she’d insisted that she was fine, when Cynthia asked, and sitting on a chaise and watching Cynthia pace and vent seemed to have instilled some life back into her.
“Honestly, I’m not that surprised,” Eleanor said, giggling a bit as Cynthia pulled a wry face. “He did warn you that he wasn’t going to thoroughly ruin you until after you’re wed.”
“Yes I know,” she responded grumpily. Placing her hands on her hips she glared into the air. “But couldn’t we do what we’ve already done? I rather liked that.”
“Even the spanking part.”
Cynthia shrugged. “If that’s what it takes…”
“Well don’t push him,” Eleanor said sagely. “You’re just as likely to get a spanking without any of the… ah… intimacies as you are to get both.”
“That was my thought as well,” Cynthia said, sighing as she slumped down in the chair across from Eleanor, tapping her foot on the floor. “He’s not going to be like this after we’re married, do you think?”
“I highly doubt it,” Eleanor said. “Wesley’s just a bit… um conservative in some ways. He lost control with you once, I doubt he’s going to risk it again until after you’re wed. Even if you did misbehave, he might very well leave the Countess to deal with you instead of doing it himself.”
“Blast.” Cynthia shook her head stubbornly. The Earl might be getting his way in many things, but she wasn’t going to just dance to his tune all the time. “I’m not going to stand for it.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m not sure yet, but I’ll think of something.”
******
Creeping down the hallway, which was almost pitch black dark, Cynthia carefully counted the doors she was passing. Of course she knew which one the Earl slept in, but it was much easier to determine which was his in the light of day. In the darkness, with only the barest light to guide her, it was more sensible to count the doors. Much better than making a mistake.
Cynthia wanted to know more about what life would be like with him, not just her daytime life but her nights and beyond. She wanted to explore those wonderful sensations he'd elicited with his fingers, wanted to know do things with him that she hadn't done with Mr. Carter or any of the others. Surely the fact that they would be married next week meant that some of the standard rules could be bent. Besides which, she truly didn’t like the idea of him thinking that she would willingly bow to whatever decree he wanted to make.
And even if the Earl didn't agree, well surely a willing, naked woman in his bed would go a long way towards changing his mind. What man could resist? What sane man would want to?
As she’d told Eleanor that afternoon, she was willing to risk a spanking. Besides, after spending an afternoon with Eleanor, away from all the planning and fuss, she’d felt very much rejuvenated. Ready to make mischief and for whatever came after. Since they hadn’t had an event to attend that evening, she was feeling all the more rested.
